Canandaigua focused on teaching for upcoming school year

Wednesday

Sep 4, 2013 at 1:04 PMSep 4, 2013 at 1:04 PM

By JULIE SHERWOOD

jsherwood@messengerpostmedia.com

Like other school districts across New York state, Canandaigua City School District goes into the new academic year immersed in the state’s Common Core Learning Standards. Superintendent Lynne Erdle said teachers have accomplished a lot over the summer to create curriculum that aligns with the new standards. The district will continue go full speed ahead with its mission to engage the community in everything from budget planning to decisions regarding extracurricular activities and other pursuits.

Student Kennedy Jensen said she begins her senior year looking forward to her studies and other interests that include sports, the arts, and community volunteering through Key Club. Spending time with teachers and friends with whom she has developed a close bond is tops on her list for her senior year, she said. An avid runner, Kennedy is in her fifth year on the varsity cross-country team and will keep running all winter long with indoor track then track and field in the spring. Like most seniors she will be busy applying for college, where she plans to pursue a career in biochemistry.

Superintendent Lynne Erdle answered questions about the new school year.

Q. What’s new this year at the Canandaigua City School District?

A. Our teachers will be immersed in Common Core Learning Standards and the modules that the State Education Department has developed. Much work has been done by our teachers over the summer to create curriculum that aligns with the new standards and to determine the effect these modules will have on the classroom instruction. Those teachers who piloted modules last year were extremely positive about the impact the modules have on student learning and student enthusiasm. The District is also entering into a Strategic Planning Process, which will result in a long-range vision that plots our District’s course over the next 5 to 10 years. We will be asking our community to participate in this process and will be publicizing upcoming summits and meetings.

A. The main challenge for the school year is the implementation of the Common Core Standards. These new standards will be hard work for our teachers and our students but promise to take teaching a learning to a higher standard that better prepares our students to be 21st Century learners.

Q. What’s one thing students should look forward to?

A. I believe that students should look forward to being greeted by energetic, eager, dedicated professionals who have spent much time this summer preparing for the opening of school. This encompasses our bus drivers, our cafeteria workers, our custodial and maintenance staff, our support staff, our teachers and our administrators. Canandaigua is blessed with educators who value their profession and are very much dedicated to the growth and success of their students.

Q. What are budget challenges are the district up against this school year?

A. The budget challenges remain the same but my biggest concern going into this school year is the new requirements around health care reform. These do not meld easily with other regulations imposed on school districts and will require hundreds of man hours to totally implement.